Archbishop Neinstedt Resigns; An Ominous Sign?

As you have likely heard, Pope Francis has accepted the resignation of Archbishop John Neinstedt, of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis . Below is Archbishop Neinstedt’s statement:

In order to give the Archdiocese a new beginning amidst the many challenges we face, I have submitted my resignation as Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis to our Holy Father, Pope Francis, and I have just received word that he has accepted it. The Catholic Church is not our Church, but Christ’s Church, and we are merely stewards for a time. My leadership has unfortunately drawn attention away from the good works of His Church and those who perform them. Thus, my decision to step down.

It has been my privilege the last seven years to serve this local Church. I have come to appreciate deeply the vitality of the 187 parishes that make up the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. I am grateful for the support I have received from priests, deacons, religious men and women and lay leaders, especially those who have collaborated with me in the oversight of this local Church.

I leave with a clear conscience knowing that my team and I have put in place solid protocols to ensure the protection of minors and vulnerable adults.

I ask for continued prayers for the well-being of this Archdiocese and its future leaders. I also ask for your continued prayers for me.

Here are a few thoughts I have with the entire situation. The timing seems far too coincidental with Bishop Finn’s resignation, almost two months ago to the day. With both resignations, we find similar language such as “a new beginning” and to allow “healing”. It seems odd at how close these two were, and I would suspect that both of these bishops were forced from their post.

Pope Benedict XVI seems to have established an odd precedent with his abdication. Both Archbishop Neinstedt and Bishop Finn were appointed by Pope Benedict. All three have stepped down due to some form of sexual abuse. At this rate, most of the good bishops that have been appointed by Pope Benedict will be forced out.

Pope Francis will likely appoint a bishop who “smells of the sheep”, a bishop of “mercy”, and one who isn’t always talking about abortion and gay marriage. In other words, another Archbishop Blaise Cupich, We will unlikely see a replacement who is traditional, but one who is charismatic.

All the progress made in the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis to restore the sacred and bring back the Traditional Latin Mass will be for naught. The FSSP will be forced out. The Traditional Latin Mass parishes will be severely punished. Priests within the Archdiocese who feel called to learn the TLM will now fear for their well-being. Suppression will occur. Reverent Novus Ordos will go difficult to find. It’ll be like the days of old with Archbishop Flynn. The Seminary will be reformed again and all the traditional elements the current seminarians are learning will be thrown out the window.

Archbishop Neinstedt is paying the price for his vocal discord with homosexual “marriage”. The gay lobby is powerful and will silence anyone who will try to expose them. Archbishop Flynn, who was in charge during the entire priest sex abuse crisis and who moved these child molesters around should be the one who is publicly tarred, feathered and thrown in jail. But then again, he is a liberal, so he is a “good guy”.

I also would not be surprised if Cardinal Burke’s Solemn Pontifical Mass that is scheduled for September is cancelled.

I hope I am wrong, but seeing how the last two years of this pontificate has revealed poor appointments for bishops while faithful bishops are being removed for the mismanagement of their predecessors, I’m left with a sense that this is bad news for St. Paul and Minneapolis.